Reynoldsburg girls team proving future is bright

Wednesday

However, the freshman midfielder/defender for the Reynoldsburg High School girls soccer team knows the struggles the Raiders are going through are all part of the growing process.

The Raiders won only two of their first nine games and, prior to playing Groveport last Tuesday, had been outscored 24-0 in their previous four games.

"It's pretty hard," Broehm said. "No one likes to lose. When a bunch of us get down after every loss, it's hard to get back up again. But we're a young team. This year we may not be the best, but we're making progress and we're learning."

First-year coach Dana Ortman said Broehm has helped shore up the team's defense. In a 3-1 loss to Newark on Sept. 7, Broehm held Purdue University recruit Al Davies, who scored more than 70 goals in her first three years with the Wildcats, to one goal when she was guarding her.

"Katie has been a stud for us this year and is going to be a real special player," Ortman said. "Anywhere we put her on the field, she makes plays and is around the ball."

Broehm has been a nice addition to the Raiders this season.

Ortman also recruited senior Kacia Grant and juniors Aliyah Zantt and Dess Aideyman from the girls basketball team, which finished 21-6 overall last season after losing to eventual Division I state champion Canton McKinley 42-39 in overtime in a state semifinal.

"They bring a lot of intangibles to our team," Ortman said. "They have had a positive influence on our team, especially on the younger players.

"We're taking our lumps right now, but these girls have a chance to turn this program around as early as next year."

•First-year boys coach Justin Lewis admits his team has been inconsistent this season.

But fortunately for the Raiders, they have played their best in their OCC-Ohio Division contests.

Before playing Groveport last Tuesday, Reynoldsburg was 5-4-2 overall but 2-0-2 in league play.

The Raiders and defending Division I state champion Gahanna entered this week as the only two unbeaten teams in the OCC-Ohio.

Before last Tuesday, Gahanna was 4-0, followed by Groveport (3-1), Reynoldsburg, Pickerington North (2-1-1), Grove City (2-2), Pickerington Central (1-3), Lancaster (0-3-1) and Newark (0-4).

"We're in a great position in the league," Lewis said. "There are three or four of us in the mix for the top spots in the league. We still have some big time games that are going to determine where we finish, but I can't ask to be in a better spot."

The Raiders put themselves in that position by playing steady defense in the league games.

Reynoldsburg allowed only two goals in its first four league games.

The problem for the Raiders has been mental lapses right after giving up a goal.

"We've been just hot and cold," Lewis said. "We get scored on and then we hang our heads and the other team scores again.

"That's exactly what happened (in a 4-1 loss to Watkins Memorial on Sept. 23). They knocked one in and we literally dropped our heads and they scored again about a minute later."

At a glance

Below are the recent results and coming schedules for the Reynoldsburg boys and girls soccer teams:

BOYS

*Sept. 14 - Tied Pickerington North at 1

Sept. 16 - Lost to Hilliard Darby 4-1

Sept. 18 - Game vs. Columbus West postponed. No makeup date has been announced.

Sept. 21 - Tied Lancaster at 0

Sept. 23 - Lost to Watkins Memorial 4-1

Last Saturday - Defeated Delaware 1-0

*Last Tuesday - Played Groveport

*Tuesday - At Gahanna

Oct. 9 - Home vs. Westerville Central

*Oct. 12 - Home vs. Pickerington Central

Of note: The Raiders were 5-4-2 overall and 2-0-2 in OCC-Ohio before last Tuesday.

*OCC-Ohio game

GIRLS

*Sept. 14 - Lost to Pickerington North 11-0

Sept. 16 - Lost to Westerville North 7-0

Sept. 18 - Lost to Hartley 1-0

*Sept. 21 - Lost to Lancaster 5-0

*Last Tuesday - Played Groveport

Saturday - At Marysville

Tuesday - Home vs. Gahanna

Oct. 9 - Home vs. Dublin Jerome

Oct. 12 - At Pickerington Central

Oct. 14 - Home vs. Watkins Memorial

Of note: The Raiders were 2-7 overall and 0-4 in OCC-Ohio before last Tuesday.

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